Brassiere



H. M. PLEHN May 2, 1950 BRAssIE'R-E Filed June 3, 1947 flTTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRASSIERE Henry M. Plehn, New York, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1947, Serial No. 752,153 3 Claims; (01. 2-42) This invention relates to a brassiere.

One of the prime purposes of the brassiere is to support the female breast in a normal, comfortable and unrestricted position. The usual type brassiere is built in various cup sizes to accommodate differences in breast size. These rigid type brassieres are fundamentally wrong in that they do not perform properly for the women whose breast size falls between cup sizes such as for example, a B-minus or B-plus. Nor does it consider the change in breast size that occurs in the female during the monthly cycle. Even in the proper breast size, most brassires envelop or bind the breast in such a fashion that normal circulation and freedom of movement is constricted. Many cases of breast cancer have been attributed to such breast constriction as caused by improperly fitted brassires.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a brassire that will permit positive control of the breasts without any binding or constriction no matter what the deviation of the breast size may be away from the normal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brassire that allows the breasts to expand and contract during breathing movements while keeping the base or body of the brassiere anchored.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere that will follow the changing contour of the breasts during the monthly cycle and supply the same positive control without binding or constricting the breasts.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the brassiere.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the brassire shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the structure of the brassiere shown in the drawings, said brassiere comprises a pair of breast-receiving sections I and 2, having a plurality of segments 3 which are joined together by stitching 4 which make criss-cross lines 5 and 6 across the face of the section where by the cup-shaped contour is attained. A connecting strip l composed of elastic material is stitched to substantially three-quarters of the periphery of the cup-shaped sections I and 2 excepting the top portion. In substantially the center of the elastic material 1, between said cup-shaped sections I and 2 is stitched a stiffening member 8 which is of any suitable'nonelastic material. To the outer edges of said elastic material I are stitched supporting bands 9 and 10 adapted to encircle the body of the .to the end I4 of said band I 0 is stitched an elastic strap I5 which hasattached to its free end I6, paired hook-eyes I1 and I8 which are spaced at different distances from the edge l6 of said elastic strap I5.

Attached to the upper non-elastic edges I9 and 20 of said cup-shaped sections I and. 2 respectively, are ends H and 22 of paired shoulder straps 23 and 24 while the other ends 25 and 26 of said shoulder straps 23 and 24 are stitched to the upper outer edges 21 and 28. Said shoulder straps 23 and 24 may be adjusted by means of buckles 29 and 30 respectively.

An elastic strip 3| is sewn through substantially the center of the elastic arcuate portions 32 and 33 of the elastic strip 1 which follows the contours of the cup sections I and 2 respectively. The floating ends 34 and 35 of said body encircling bands 9 and ID are interconnected partially by said elastic material I and an elastic strap 36 sewn to the inside of said elastic materials I and said floating ends 34 and 35 of said bands 9 and I0.

In the wearing of the garment described above, said breast cup sections l and 2 are held in position on the breasts by the body encircling bands 9 and I0, yet said cup sections I and 2 float free on the interconnecting strip 1 of elastic material so that said cup sections I and 2 will follow the changing contour of the breast during breathing and during any other natural breast changes as described above. During the floating movements of the breasts and their supporting cup sections I and 2, said central stiffening member 8 supplies the necessary separation to maintain said breasts in the normal separated position.

The normal breathing movements of the chest are further facilitated by the elastic band 36 which interconnects the floating ends 34 and 35 of said non-elastic cloth of the encircling body bands 9 and ill whereby the entire brassire covering the front of the chest expands and contracts under pressure of the breathing movements of the wearer.

As will be seen from the above description, the invention discloses a brassiere which allows for expansion and contraction of the chest cavity yet supplies positive control of the contour of the female breasts.

ship, it will be understood that such embodimentand details'are given 'by Wayof xampleonly and not as limiting the scope of my invention. I claim: 1. A brassiere comprising a pair of cup-shaped receiving sections, a pair of supporting bands adapted to encircle the body of thewea'rer, said' supporting bands having innerz ends andaouter ends, the inner ends being proximate and shaped to conform to the side and bottom contour of'the L bust receiving sections, and terminating in floatin portions belowaisaid bust receiving 25801310115;

sa'id floating portions being-separated from one: another by'a small gap, an-elastic-member having a portion filling: said gap, connectingzsaid float-ing ends-, and aiportion,a=arcuate in shape, connecting the bustxvreceivi'n'g sections to wthe supporting bands and connecting the bust receivingv sections.

to one another, and another elastic member arcuate in shape secured to the arcuate portions of said first mentioned elastic member.

2. A brassire as claimed in claim 1, including another elastic member secured to the portion of the first elastic member that fills the gap between the floating ends and connects said floating ends 31- Ab'rassire as claimed in claim 1, including a separation member secured to the first mentioned elastic member between said cup shaped receiving sections.

HENRY M. PLEHN.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreierences are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5:1 ees? 

